1
as in strife
a lack of agreement or harmony
the conflict between absolute freedom and personal responsibility
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in clash
a physical dispute between opposing individuals or groups
an armed conflict between strikers and strikebreakers
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in hostilities
a state of armed violent struggle between states, nations, or groups
the United Nations strives to prevent international conflicts
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in rivalry
an earnest effort for superiority or victory over another
the eternal conflict between the forces of good and evil
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to clash
to be out of harmony or agreement usually noticeably
his statement conflicts with the facts, as given in the police report
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of conflict
Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Along those lines, questions have arisen about potential conflicts for Miran taking a leave as head of the Council of Economic Advisers, rather than resigning.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 19 Sep. 2025
Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Flores doesn’t say Harvey is necessarily conflicted but demands to know more about his relationship with the league.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for conflict
Noun
In an era where global conflict, political division, and cultural anxieties can make life feel like a dystopian, Orwellian novel, art has the power to offer both sharp commentary and joyful escape.
—Lee Sharrock, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Along those lines, questions have arisen about potential conflicts for Miran taking a leave as head of the Council of Economic Advisers, rather than resigning.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
Work culture, tennis or otherwise, rewards busyness and often self-sacrifice, which conflicts with self-care and mental health.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Flores doesn’t say Harvey is necessarily conflicted but demands to know more about his relationship with the league.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for conflict
Recent Examples of Synonyms for conflict
Noun
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As that interior strife becomes more evident, the beautiful mountain village gives way to rot, decay, and of course, actual monsters.—
Vincent Acovino,
NPR,
22 Sep. 2025
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Drawing on his own proprietary study of 500 years of history, the founder of the world’s largest hedge fund, Bridgewater Associates, points to a predictable 80-year cycle that suggests an era of significant global and internal strife is upon us.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Following a 12-game non-conference slate, highlighted by home bouts with Utah State and Davidson, as well as road clashes with Virginia Tech and Appalachian State, the 49ers tip off what hopes to be a bounce-back year in conference play — starting on New Year’s Eve.—
Hunter Bailey,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Sep. 2025
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In the build-up to this scene, Jordan has a clash with the head of student life about their gender identity, and the school’s intentional disregard of their experience and language around it.—
Abbey White,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile, the interethnic hostilities that led to the horrors of Sri Lanka’s civil war—which ended, in 2009, with the brutal defeat of the island’s Tamil minority—persist under his watch.—
Kapil Komireddi,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
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John Cleese and Piers Morgan have renewed their social media hostilities over Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension and Donald Trump‘s state visit to the UK.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The Aztecs are 14-0 in the history of the rivalry.—
Bill Center,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
22 Sep. 2025
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But for two California Democrats, who may both have their eye on the same political prize when the Democratic primaries for president roll around in 2028, could this be a slight indication of a burgeoning political and personal rivalry?—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Billy Vigar collided with a concrete wall during the game at Wingate and Finchley while attempting to keep a ball from going out of play, per ESPN.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
26 Sep. 2025
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On the third play of the season, against the Los Angeles Chargers in Brazil, Worthy collided with tight end and teammate Travis Kelce on a crossing route and injured his shoulder.—
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Disboard lists many public discord servers and many young coders use the site, contributing a different demographic of coders.—
Stephen Cass,
IEEE Spectrum,
23 Sep. 2025
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But warning signs of discord between networks and affiliates had been flashing for years.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
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All these years later, Corigliano’s symphony has outlasted those skirmishes and emerged sounding fresh and exciting and powerful.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
22 Sep. 2025
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Although the Hatfield-McCoy relationship has been fraught since the birth of the medium, streaming and cord-cutting has turned financial skirmishes into an existential contest.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Washington was happy to let Moscow broker the peace deal that ended the 44-day war, deploying peacekeepers to implement the lopsided terms.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
21 Sep. 2025
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That atmosphere makes Europe far more cautious over a trade war with China, or even with India.—
Laura Kelly,
The Hill,
20 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Conflict.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/conflict. Accessed 27 Sep. 2025.
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